Emergence…the Renewing Light of 2018

In just a few days’ time, the re-birthed Light of Winter Solstice will be a month in its growing, each day now lengthening by a little over one minute. The first New Moon of the year will reign in tomorrow’s daytime sky, the Capricorn New Moon. Holiday celebrations are now tucked away in our memories. Now further days of Winter’s necessary cold and dark invite us to be still, to rest, allowing the forces of renewal to have their restorative effect on us and all of Nature. I take heart from the poet Theodore Roethke who reminds us, “Deep in their roots, the flowers keep the light.”

The year past has been more than a little challenging for nearly all of us…too many days and even weeks of dis-spiriting events and dark hours. I sought, as I know many of you did too, to stay close to those I love, to nurture hope in whatever ways I could. Reaching the Winter Solstice in December, what joy to gather in sacred circle with kindred spirits to honor the Wheel of the Year’s ancient, patient rhythm, to re-member and celebrate the Light that never dies, to welcome the re-birth of Hope.

With gratitude for these words to the poet and Earth-lover, Rachelle Lamb, I share this wish with all of you for this New Year of 2018, emerging with all its possibilities and promise: “May you fall madly in love this year … in love with this fragile jewel of a world, with hard work, real learning, just causes, petitioning and prayers. May you fall in love with wonder itself, with the grand mystery, with all that feeds you in order that you may live … and with the responsibility that that confers. May you fall in love with heartbreak and seeing how it’s stitched into everything. May you fall in love with the natural order of things and with tears, tenderness and humility. May this be a magnificent year for you. May you fall deeply, madly, hopelessly, inextinguishably in love.”